The Shut-In Prince’s Splendid Social Debut — Me, a Villainous Imperial, Have Spent the Last Fifteen Years Fighting the “Wicked Thoughts” Eating Away at My Mind. When I Finally Returned to High Society, There Were Way Too Many People I Didn’t Recognize — - Chapter 30: Pair

“So now, you will—form pairs.”

It… it had come.

The moment when someone suddenly forced you to form a two-person group with someone you barely knew.

…Well, putting that aside, there was one fundamental problem.

My level had stopped rising at Lv. 1.

In that sense, this “Exam” was extremely incompatible with me. It was a terrible landmine that could drag whoever paired with me into expulsion as well.

(I have to solve this urgently…)

But before that, I needed to analyze Fryure’s “Spirit Armament.”

Which meant that from now on, I would need her to accompany me in various ways.

While I was thinking about that, Yubel-sensei posted a list in name order on the whiteboard.

“The order in which you can choose your partners will be determined by ‘Decision Rights.’ In other words, the first person allowed to choose a partner is the top-ranked student in this class—Sedri Bottle Lonsdale.”

In this class, there were three students at Lv. 21.

The first was the glasses-wearing boy just called.

The second was a cool-looking handsome guy named Allen Moscole.

The third was the black-haired girl with a cold demeanor—Yunoshi Lyla Snowden.

“Although you are in the same level bracket, the academy decided the ranking order based on the results of your interviews. We will not accept any complaints about it, so keep that in mind.”

This class was extreme.

Fifteen students were at Lv. 20.

The remaining two were the Lv. 10 Twin-tail Girl sitting in front of me—

And me, Lv. 1.

“Now then, Sedri. Decide who you will choose as your partner.”

“…I choose second place—Allen.”

For a brief moment, Glasses-kun glanced toward me.

Had he considered pairing with me?

But then he probably concluded that passing the exam would be impossible and switched targets.

“I choose fourth place—Vince Laddman.”

Next, Lady Yunoshi immediately selected the student ranked beside her.

The following students did the same.

Well, that was only natural.

Their promotion prospects were on the line. There was no reason anyone would choose me—or the Twin-tail Girl.

“Charl Clayton, who will you choose?”

“W-Well… it can’t be helped. I choose the eighteenth-ranked person.”

Charl-kun selected the Lv. 20 girl who remained near the end—a girl whose eyes were hidden by her bangs.

Her name was Ryza Norman.

(Hm?)

That name caught my attention slightly.

Because it matched someone I knew.

However, the family name was different.

Her hairstyle was messy, and she carried herself with a stoop.

…Probably a different person.

Still, there were simply too many people in this world I didn’t know.

“Then the final pair is Lady Lala and Yoan. The two of you are paired.”

So my partner had been decided automatically.

“Huh…?!”

The person reacting dramatically was the Twin-tail Girl sitting in front of me.

Lala Lirure Lorietta.

Yes—another girl I didn’t know.

She was Lv. 10, and the surrounding gazes clearly said It’s over.

Naturally.

From an objective perspective, we were the top candidates for expulsion.

“This pair will begin diving into the dungeon starting tomorrow. Since you will be partners entrusting your backs to each other in the dungeon, make sure to introduce yourselves properly. …Now then, since the waiting is over, it is time to distribute your ‘Alf Coins.'”

Yubel-sensei handed us small bags containing currency one by one.

“Your current ‘Star Emblems’ total twenty. In other words, you will receive twenty Alf Gold Coins. Since your monthly food expenses are included in this amount, and unexpected expenses may occur, I recommend that you avoid wasting them.”

I see.

So one Alf Gold Coin was distributed for each “Star Emblem.”

Currently, A Class had thirty-five, B Class had thirty, and C Class had twenty-five.

“Like, aren’t we the only ones getting less…?”

“Right? So stingy.”

“Sensei—. Atishi and the others think we need not only food money but beauty expenses too—”

The happy-go-lucky Gyaru Noble Ladies began complaining.

“Stop whining. If you have time to worry about grooming, go dive into the dungeon. There will eventually be a ‘Competitive Battle,’ so if you want to earn money individually, just raise your level. Understood?”

“Che—.”

The Gyaru Noble Lady pouted.

“You can obtain most necessities at the school store. But if you go to the castle town, make sure to carry your ‘Student Handbook.’ If you lose it, you won’t be able to pass through the school gate. Also, the cafeteria closes at 10 PM, so make sure you eat dinner before then. And…”

Yubel-sensei continued listing various precautions.

Most of them were already written in the Student Handbook.

“Any other questions? …No? Then today’s homeroom ends here. You’ve all had a long day, so rest well and prepare yourselves for tomorrow.”

After saying that, Yubel-sensei left the classroom.

◇◇◇◇

The students began leaving their seats restlessly.

It seemed that from now on, they would be meeting with their partners and making preparations.

Their expressions varied, but many carried a sense of urgency.

“Hey, wanna go to the castle town now?”

“Sounds good. I wanted to check the geography around here anyway. There’s supposed to be a stylish café too.”

“I totally want to go! Hey, Plum-chan, you’re coming too, right?”

One of the mischievous Gyaru Noble Ladies spoke to a dependable-looking girl with semi-long hair.

“Eh, is it okay if I come too?”

“Of course. Since we’re partners now, we share the same fate, right?”

The Gyaru Noble Lady grinned—ni.

(I see. So this is the extrovert community…)

So that’s how they invited people.

It was useful reference.

Even so, D Class had more interesting members than I had expected.

First, the four upper nobles.

Each of them seemed to have strong personalities.

Especially two stood out—Yunoshi Lyla Snowden and Barlek Rob Nimday.

“W-Wait. Yunoshi-san, about discussing our plan…?”

“No need. Just follow my instructions. That will allow us to clear this ‘Exam.'”

“…Tsk.”

A smart-looking young man was curtly dismissed by the long black-haired beauty.

Yunoshi gave an impression somewhat similar to the Fryure I first saw.

No—perhaps even colder than that.

It even felt like she carried an air of deliberate rejection.

Considering that an upper noble had ended up in D Class, there must be some reason behind it.

I wondered what kind of person she truly was.

“Oi, Barlek! Where are you going?!”

“Isn’t it obvious? To confirm love with my beloved Mademoiselle. Unlike you, I am not so free.”

“H-Hah?! Oi, don’t mess around…!”

Meanwhile, a foolish-looking young man was left behind.

Barlek was easier to understand.

He seemed like the self-righteous type who never listened to others.

His low level until now might even be the result of that stubbornness or temperament.

He didn’t seem concerned about being low-level, and the overwhelming confidence he carried was similar to the aura of powerful people.

Of course, there was also the possibility he was simply an idiot.

“Then Lala-san, do your best too. If anything happens, we’ll listen to you.”

“Atishi and the others don’t want Lala-san to get expelled either.”

“That’s right. Though we don’t really have the spare capacity to help much.”

The words of the Gyaru Noble Ladies were somewhat dry.

But they probably weren’t bad people.

This academy itself was simply cruel.

If not for the ideology of level supremacy, they probably could have gotten along normally.

After that, the Gyaru Noble Ladies briefly glanced at me before leaving the classroom without saying anything.

“Uyu…………, …………Nn………… What should I do… what should I do…”

The Twin-tail Girl looked on the verge of tears.

(Sorry that someone like me ended up as your partner.)

According to earlier conversation, Lala belonged to the First Prince faction.

She had been paired with a Prince from a hostile faction.

And on top of that, that Prince was Lv. 1.

She really was pitiful enough to make me sympathize.

That said, I couldn’t afford to get expelled from this place either.

So I needed to act.

“Hey, Lala-san. I have something I’d like to talk about. Is that alright?”

“…Haah?!!?!?”

She looked far too startled.

“Nice to meet you. I am Yoan Joachim Rodenze. Sorry to jump straight to the main topic, but regarding this ‘Exam,’ what do you want to do?”

For now, I wanted to hear her wishes.

“Uyuu… I-I… umm… well…”

Lala stumbled over her words.

Come to think of it, she had seemed strangely distant from the beginning.

I didn’t think she was intimidated by my title as Prince.

Was there some other reason she was afraid?

“Sorry, let me rephrase the question. Do you—want to drop out here?”

“…Hmph.”

Lala’s face stiffened instantly.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I can’t afford to drop out here. So I want to hear your intentions. After that, we can decide whether cooperation between us is possible. Either way is fine.”

Something like that.

Even if Lala didn’t cooperate with me, there were still other methods.

Her cooperation would simply give me more options.

“I… I don’t want to… drop out.”

“Good. Then I’ll proceed under the assumption that there is merit in cooperating with each other.”

“Y-Yes…”

Her expression was still stiff.

Strange for me to say, but Lala didn’t seem used to social interaction.

“Let’s change locations for now.”

Somewhere quieter would make conversation easier.

◇◇◇◇

With that in mind, I moved with Lala to the cafeteria.

Walking beside her, I was surprised by how small she was.

Her height was probably somewhere in the low 140 cm range.

(A randoseru would suit her…)

Since I was around 180 cm tall, her head was at a height where I could easily pat it—pon pon—with just a slight bend of my arm.

If we were talking about younger-sister attributes, she might even surpass Serta.

I ordered coffee, while Lala ordered cocoa, and we sat at the counter seats by the window.

The view outside was pleasant, and we could speak calmly here.

“…Uyu.”

When Lala sat down, her feet didn’t reach the floor.

Perhaps dissatisfied with that, she began swinging them—bura bura.

Holding her mug with both hands, she took small sips.

“…Hot!”

Apparently she had a cat tongue.

“Want a cookie?”

“Eh… I-Is that okay?”

“Sure. My sister made them, so they’re good.”

Lala began eating the cookies Serta had baked—mokyu mokyu.

She really did resemble a small animal.

“…They’re delicious.”

“Right?”

I took a small piece myself.

…Yes, they went perfectly with coffee.

“Uyu… Yoan-sama, you’re aiming to become Emperor, right?”

“Yeah… well, something like that.”

For convenience, I answered that way.

“That… must be difficult.”

“Well, yeah. …But it’s harder for you, right? Since you’re part of the First Prince faction.”

“?!!?!?”

Lala froze again.

“Uyuuu… umm… well…”

Just as I thought.

That seemed to be what she had been worried about.

She must have been distressed about being caught between the First Prince and me.

If something like that affected her performance starting tomorrow, it would be troublesome.

So I decided to settle it now.

“I don’t mind if you’re part of the First Prince faction. We’re only cooperating temporarily to avoid expulsion. Once we get through this exam, that’s the end of it. If necessary, I can even write a contract.”

“…Thank you very much. But you don’t need to go that far… it’s okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“…Nnu……… Somehow, Yoan-sama doesn’t seem like the type who would lie.”

…Was this girl really okay?

I found myself worrying she might end up following some suspicious old man.

Well, her tension had eased, so I considered that good enough.

“Lala-san—may I ask you one thing?”

“Uyu… …Lala is fine.”

Then it was time to move to the real issue.

“Lala, can you tell me why you’re Lv. 10? It’s strange for me to say this, but compared to other upper nobles, it’s quite low. If there is some reason, I want you to tell me now.”

“Uuh… That is…”

Just as Lala began speaking with difficulty—

A group of people approached us.

“—I was looking for you, Lala. What are you doing in a place like this?”

A noble lady wearing somewhat flashy clothing stood at the front, followed by several attendants.

As usual, it was a woman I didn’t recognize.

And she was wearing a rather artificial smile.